Cox buys WAWS & WTEV and Renda is staying put

[JAWilson]

TRI had a nice amount of Jacksonville goodies this morning.

First it was announced that Cox Media Group is buying Fox 30 WAWS and CBS 47 WTEV from Newport Television. This is going to make things interesting now as in how to relocate two TV stations out of the same building used by Clear Channel. Or could Clear Channel and Cox swap buildings for the radio stations or does Cox go build new studios altogether for the TV stations once the sale is closed? Thoughts on how this improves Cox's position in the market?

Also right below where it was mentioned about Cox buying the TV stations, a nice litle brief on Renda. It appears they are staying put in Jacksonville. Would you hope the money the they get from the sale of the stations in Oklahoma will led to improvements in Jacksonville? I would hope and hopefully they can return live streaming back on the stations as well.

Drop your two cents as always!

 

[younglee981]

wow...that should be interesting...look for logo changes as well as a harder news product. They will be also sister stations with WFTV in Orlando and WSB TV out of Atlanta.

 

[upstate29651]

Cox could pursue ABC affiliation, taking it away from Gannett. Which station it would swap is debateable, as CBS & FOX are both tops as networks. I agree about a harder news product, new graphic, weather "hype", and in Cox fashion, possibly a new live doppler radar...and the return of a news chopper.

Regardless, this will solidify Cox as the local media leader in Jax. WJXT is in BIG trouble now....

G

 

[nfladxer]

WOKV and WJXT have been "News partners" for some time, that would seem to be changing, unless Cox ditches the radio properties in Jax. If Renda stays put in Jacksonville, I would be surprised if they opened up the purse strings. They have always been run "lean and mean"!

 

[younglee981]

Cox could pursue ABC affiliation, taking it away from Gannett. Which station it would swap is debateable, as CBS & FOX are both tops as networks. I agree about a harder news product, new graphic, weather "hype", and in Cox fashion, possibly a new live doppler radar...and the return of a news chopper.

Regardless, this will solidify Cox as the local media leader in Jax. WJXT is in BIG trouble now....

G

wow..could we see a Fox 25, and ABC 30...and a news chopper for traffic and weather and breaking news...o yea and a weekend morning news cast on the newly cox owned stations. and something else of note..Cox is selling their Birmingham Cluster as well as other small and medium market stations. or WJXT may try to get network affiliation back.

 

[nfladxer]

Here's the Cox Media group update: As indicated earlier, Cox Media Group is buying Fox 30 WAWS and CBS 47 WTEV from Newport Television.

Cox will keep it's radio properties in Jacksonville! But, they intend to leave these markets:
* BIRMINGHAM (WAGG-A, WBHJ, WBHK, WENN-A, WZZK, WZNN, WBPT, and CMG’s contract rights for WALJ)
* GREENVILLE (WJMZ-/HD3, WHZT)
* HAWAII (KRTR-A/F, KPHW, KCCN, KINE, KKNE-A)
* LOUISVILLE (WRKA, WVEZ, WSFR, WQNU)
* RICHMOND (WHTI, WKHK, WKLR, WURV)
* SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT (WPLR, WEZN, WFOX and CMG’s contract rights for WYBC)

 

[Poledo]

I assume Cox doesn't own any cable franchises in the Jax DMA that would need to be relinquished?

Are any other broadcasters sharing the same real estate that Newport and Clear Channel use in Jax? Do they lease or does Clear Channel own the real estate?

I wonder why the Clear Channel radio stations in Mobile/Pensacola are located in the same building housing Media General's CBS affiliate, WKRG, while the Newport stations have their own building across town that they don't appear to share with other broadcasters. Were the Mobile/PNS Clear Channel TV stations ever co-located with Clear Channel radio in Mobile? I know they shared the same building in Pensacola? In fact, I think the WPMI/WJTC signs are still up at the Clear Channel building in Pensacola... but that doesn't mean the stations still operate there... it could just mean no one has the motivation to take down the sign.

 

[nfladxer]

I assume Cox doesn't own any cable franchises in the Jax DMA that would need to be relinquished?

Are any other broadcasters sharing the same real estate that Newport and Clear Channel use in Jax? Do they lease or does Clear Channel own the real estate?

To the best of my knowledge, Cox doesn't operate any cable franchise in the Jax Metro. Comcast/Xfinity and AT&T/U-verse are the major players.

Someone with better info may speak to this, but, it appears Clear Channel may own the property housing their radio stations and Channel's 30 and 47. Not sure of the sequence, but all the radio studios were consolidated at the Beachwood-Southside location when CC used to own and/or LMA the TV facilities before they were sold to Newport. Plus, Clear Channel Outdoor is located right next to the larger radio-TV building next door. That gives me the impression they own the two properties, unless it's all leased.

 

[jmtillery]

Clear Channel actually owned WAWS-TV 30 before acquiring any radio properties in Jacksonville. All of CCs TV stations, including WAWS, were sold several years ago so the company could concentrate on radio, outdoor or other media avenues at the time, completely getting out of the television station business.

 

[Poledo]

Without looking it up, wasn't WPMI in Mobile Clear Channel's first TV station?

Did Paxon, Capstar, AM-FM, or any other group own radio stations in Jacksonville that wound up joining the Clear Channel family or did CC enter the market after they became the 800 pound gorilla?

 

[upstate29651]

Without looking it up, wasn't WPMI in Mobile Clear Channel's first TV station?

Did Paxon, Capstar, AM-FM, or any other group own radio stations in Jacksonville that wound up joining the Clear Channel family or did CC enter the market after they became the 800 pound gorilla?

Jacor & Paxson, I believe.

G

 

[nfladxer]

Are any other broadcasters sharing the same real estate that Newport and Clear Channel use in Jax? Do they lease or does Clear Channel own the real estate?

I checked with someone who knows, Clear Channel retained ownership of the buildings/property when they sold the TV stations. The TV stations lease their space. Since it's not that unusual for competing radio companies to share/lease tower space and transmitting facilities, Cox Media might consider, or may have to, continue that lease arrangement.

Without looking it up, wasn't WPMI in Mobile Clear Channel's first TV station?

Did Paxon, Capstar, AM-FM, or any other group own radio stations in Jacksonville that wound up joining the Clear Channel family or did CC enter the market after they became the 800 pound gorilla?

Jacor & Paxson, I believe.

G

While AM 1320 and FM 106.5 were eventually spun off, most of the former Jacor and Paxon stations formed what is now Clear Channel Media + Entertainment Jacksonville.

 

[nfladxer]

That should have been: "Paxson"! ;D

 

[Poledo]

That should have been: "Paxson"! ;D

Doh, I screwed up twice. First I typed "Pamal"...

 

[olmjax]

Also, AM 1400 and AM 1460 were also spun off in addition to 106.5 FM and AM 1320.

 

[nfladxer]

Also, AM 1400 and AM 1460 were also spun off in addition to 106.5 FM and AM 1320.

Yes, I realize that both 1400 and 1460 became part of the Concord placeholder group, before Salem radio entered the picture, but, I only remember, AM 1320 (WQIK-AM, then WJGR-AM) being owned by Jacor, and FM 106.5 was owned by Paxson. I just can't seem to recall who owned and ran AM 1400 and AM 1460 before the big AMFM, Inc/Clear Channel merger. Anyone have that info?

 

[Parttimer]

Also right below where it was mentioned about Cox buying the TV stations, a nice litle brief on Renda. It appears they are staying put in Jacksonville. Would you hope the money the they get from the sale of the stations in Oklahoma will led to improvements in Jacksonville? I would hope and hopefully they can return live streaming back on the stations as well.

Drop your two cents as always!

Renda doesn't stream in a lot of markets, maybe not anywhere. They company doesn't feel there's enough revenue there vs what the music royalties cost.

They don't even subscribe to Arbitron anymore in some markets.

So don't expect streaming to return anytime in the forseeable future.

 

[upstate29651]

Cox Media Group is buying Fox 30 WAWS and CBS 47 WTEV from Newport Television.

When will the sale close?

G

 

[jmtillery]

Cox Media Group is buying Fox 30 WAWS and CBS 47 WTEV from Newport Television.

When will the sale close?

G

Normally the FCC gives its "stamp of approval" within 60-days of the license transfer application filing date, and the closing usually takes place within 10-days following FCC approval.

 

[mediawatch22]

I assume Cox doesn't own any cable franchises in the Jax DMA that would need to be relinquished?

Are any other broadcasters sharing the same real estate that Newport and Clear Channel use in Jax? Do they lease or does Clear Channel own the real estate?

I wonder why the Clear Channel radio stations in Mobile/Pensacola are located in the same building housing Media General's CBS affiliate, WKRG, while the Newport stations have their own building across town that they don't appear to share with other broadcasters. Were the Mobile/PNS Clear Channel TV stations ever co-located with Clear Channel radio in Mobile? I know they shared the same building in Pensacola? In fact, I think the WPMI/WJTC signs are still up at the Clear Channel building in Pensacola... but that doesn't mean the stations still operate there... it could just mean no one has the motivation to take down the sign.

The obvious move would be for Cox to obtain ownership of the CC building and run all of their TV and radio from there. I'll almost bet that CC will sell the building to Cox seeing that they are over 16 billion in debt that they will never be able to re-pay..